WGU CRITICAL THINKING -D265 TEST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Bad inferential structure: - Answer-Every argument with the same structure as this
argument is bad (invalid or weak). The premises do not, in fact, demonstrate or maybe
even support the conclusion. In other words, we can accept the premises as true
without being compelled to accept the conclusion. There is something wrong with this
argument's general structure.
False premise: - Answer-This particular argument has a premise/assumption that is
false. There is something wrong with this argument's particular content.
Conclusion Indicators - Answer-all have the general sense of "I have told you some
things or I am about to tell you some things, now here is what I want you to believe."
They feel conclusive. Here are some especially common ones: Therefore, so, it follows
that, hence, thus, entails that, we may conclude that, implies that, wherefore, as a result
Premise indicators - Answer-have the general sense of "from this fact I am going to infer
something else." Here are some common: Because, for, given that, in that, as, since, as
indicated by
Inference/Argument. - Answer-is any purportedly rational movement from evidence or
premises to a conclusion. Example: "I believe x, because of y, z, and w" or "Because a,
b and c, we have to believe that d."
bad argument premises - Answer-is one where the premises fail to support the
conclusion
good argument's premises - Answer-actually do support the conclusion.
Deduction - Answer-Arguments where the premises guarantee or necessitate the
conclusion
Induction - Answer-Arguments where the premises make the conclusion probable
Abduction - Answer-Arguments where the best available explanation is chosen as the
correct explanation
Invalid Argument Structure - Answer-is one where the premises do not guarantee the
truth of the conclusion Ex: All crows are black.
John is black.
Therefore, John is a crow
, Valid Argument Structure - Answer-is an argument structure where the premises
guarantee the conclusion Ex: Only crows are black.
John is black.
So, John is a crow.
The Fallacy Fallacy - Answer-when someone uses the fact that a fallacy was committed
to justify rejecting the conclusion of the fallacious argument.
Soundness/Sound Argument - Answer-is about both structure and truth: you must have
a good structure and true premises to make a sound argument Ex: T+T=T
Unsound Argument - Answer-conversely, is an argument that either is invalid or has at
least one false premise Ex: T+F=F
Validity - Answer-is a property of an argument structure. It means this structure is such
that if the premises of any argument with this structure are true then the conclusion of
the argument must be true.
Sound Argument - Answer-All True Premises + Valid Structure =
How is truth connected to propositions? - Answer-Truth is a property of propositions.
That is, only proposition can be true or false.
When reflecting on an argument what is the difference between a valid and invalid
argument structure? - Answer-Valid argument structure is when the conclusion is
guaranteed by the premises. While Invalid argument structure is when the conclusion is
not supported or guaranteed by the premises.
Truth - Answer-Propositions are true or false
Strength - Answer-In the inductive argument, true premises make the conclusion
probably true.
Cogency - Answer-In a strong inductive argument, all premises are true.
Cogency Argument - Answer-All True Premises + Strong Inductive Support =
In deductive reasoning, what is the difference between validity and soundness? -
Answer-Validity only concerns the structure of an argument, but soundness requires
both validity and true premises.
Formal Fallacy - Answer-yields a defect in its form
Affirming the Consequent
Example:
P1: IF X, then Y
P2: Y
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Bad inferential structure: - Answer-Every argument with the same structure as this
argument is bad (invalid or weak). The premises do not, in fact, demonstrate or maybe
even support the conclusion. In other words, we can accept the premises as true
without being compelled to accept the conclusion. There is something wrong with this
argument's general structure.
False premise: - Answer-This particular argument has a premise/assumption that is
false. There is something wrong with this argument's particular content.
Conclusion Indicators - Answer-all have the general sense of "I have told you some
things or I am about to tell you some things, now here is what I want you to believe."
They feel conclusive. Here are some especially common ones: Therefore, so, it follows
that, hence, thus, entails that, we may conclude that, implies that, wherefore, as a result
Premise indicators - Answer-have the general sense of "from this fact I am going to infer
something else." Here are some common: Because, for, given that, in that, as, since, as
indicated by
Inference/Argument. - Answer-is any purportedly rational movement from evidence or
premises to a conclusion. Example: "I believe x, because of y, z, and w" or "Because a,
b and c, we have to believe that d."
bad argument premises - Answer-is one where the premises fail to support the
conclusion
good argument's premises - Answer-actually do support the conclusion.
Deduction - Answer-Arguments where the premises guarantee or necessitate the
conclusion
Induction - Answer-Arguments where the premises make the conclusion probable
Abduction - Answer-Arguments where the best available explanation is chosen as the
correct explanation
Invalid Argument Structure - Answer-is one where the premises do not guarantee the
truth of the conclusion Ex: All crows are black.
John is black.
Therefore, John is a crow
, Valid Argument Structure - Answer-is an argument structure where the premises
guarantee the conclusion Ex: Only crows are black.
John is black.
So, John is a crow.
The Fallacy Fallacy - Answer-when someone uses the fact that a fallacy was committed
to justify rejecting the conclusion of the fallacious argument.
Soundness/Sound Argument - Answer-is about both structure and truth: you must have
a good structure and true premises to make a sound argument Ex: T+T=T
Unsound Argument - Answer-conversely, is an argument that either is invalid or has at
least one false premise Ex: T+F=F
Validity - Answer-is a property of an argument structure. It means this structure is such
that if the premises of any argument with this structure are true then the conclusion of
the argument must be true.
Sound Argument - Answer-All True Premises + Valid Structure =
How is truth connected to propositions? - Answer-Truth is a property of propositions.
That is, only proposition can be true or false.
When reflecting on an argument what is the difference between a valid and invalid
argument structure? - Answer-Valid argument structure is when the conclusion is
guaranteed by the premises. While Invalid argument structure is when the conclusion is
not supported or guaranteed by the premises.
Truth - Answer-Propositions are true or false
Strength - Answer-In the inductive argument, true premises make the conclusion
probably true.
Cogency - Answer-In a strong inductive argument, all premises are true.
Cogency Argument - Answer-All True Premises + Strong Inductive Support =
In deductive reasoning, what is the difference between validity and soundness? -
Answer-Validity only concerns the structure of an argument, but soundness requires
both validity and true premises.
Formal Fallacy - Answer-yields a defect in its form
Affirming the Consequent
Example:
P1: IF X, then Y
P2: Y
